A Russian journalist has been arrested on charges of “extremism” for helping create YouTube videos for the team of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a Moscow court was told Saturday.
Konstantin Gabov, who, according to media reports, worked for Reuters, the Russian TV channels Moscow 24 and MIR, as well as the Belarusian news agency Belsat, will remain in pre-trial detention until at least June 27, the court’s press service reported on Telegram.
The court said he was accused of “participating in the preparation of photographs and videos for publication on the NavalnyLIVE YouTube channel,” one of the platforms used by Navalny’s team.
Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic, died under unclear circumstances in his Arctic prison in February.
His movement is designated as “extremist,” which exposes its employees and supporters to prosecution.
Most of Navalny's allies are in exile or serving long prison sentences.
In March, photographer Antonina Kravtsova was also detained on "extremism" charges after frequently covering Navalny's trials for SOTAvision, one of the few media organizations documenting political repression in Russia and considered a "foreign agent" by authorities.
Other jailed journalists include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovitch, who faces espionage charges that he and U.S. authorities deny.
Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, an employee of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been behind bars since October for failing to register as a “foreign agent” as required by authorities.